David Howell
Every job I’ve had and every project I’ve worked on has taught me something about design, people and business. I love diving into what drives people and business and how to get the two to come together.
I started off loving animation and flash then working for a print magazine doing layouts, advertising and album covers. Then I moved more towards the web, designing websites and creating full branding and marketing strategies as well as User Interfaces for web-based applications and delving into User Experience models.
The advent and the subsequent all-encompassing rise of mobile and tablet pushed me into responsive design and collaboration with front-end web development for frameworks and agile development.
Now I am diving into the psychology of the digital ecosphere, working with data, research (both quantitative and qualitative), user testing, human-centred design practices, ideation cycles, design sprints, customer journey mapping, personas and the list goes on.
I thoroughly enjoy unpacking a business to understand how it ticks, and whom it will appeal to, and working with a great team to get those 2 to meet and make magic happen.
Work
2019 - 2024
Design Director at Concentrix Catalyst
2022 - Now
Course Facilitator at RMIT Online
2018-2019
Designer at Australian Taxation Office
2017 - 2018
Principal UX designer at QSuper
2016 - 2017
Lead UX designer at Sunsuper
2013 - 2016
Lead Designer at Compare the Market
Product Strategy & Planning
Business strategy and project planning. Prioritisation and go to market strategy for new to existing, small to large businesses
Design Thinking & Strategy
Sketching, storyboarding, workshop facilitation and design sprints. Driven by IDEO Human Centred Design methodology and Trauma Informed Design.
UX Design & Research
Prototyping, user flows, journey maps, qualitative & quantitative research, data analysis and user testing.
Design Delivery
Collaborating with development teams, device testing, agile methodologies with scrums or lean practices. Big fan a JIRA and Confluence paired with Invision.
award winning
Empowering officers
Working with the Qld Police Service Mobile Capability Centre (MCC) to redesign the QLiTE iPad app suite for front line officers into a single universal application. Leading the research and design capability, working with counterparts in PMO and Technology to formulate the product strategy alongside QPS to deliver award winning improved digital capability for all front line officers.
Roadmap of digital change
Working with Qld Police Service to assess the outcomes of the “Independent Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence” and the 78 key recommendations
Scoping, planning and overseeing a program of work led by my team in conjunction with the project delivery team with the goal of establishing a blueprint for transformative improvements to the way QPS respond to incidents of D&FV through innovative and modern technology
Taking site safety digital
Working with Energy Queensland providing expertise on the product strategy and go to market for their internal application HazChat.
Researching, prototyping, designing and delivering the initial MVP in a 12 week rapid deployment.
ESTNL Wellness
Working with stakeholders in Apple, health and law enforcement from the US and Australia, I lead the design and strategy approach for a new product that leverages passive and active health data along with operational incident data to provide officers and their supervisors with holistic and aggregate insights into their wellbeing
Research driven
Working with the National Relay Service to plan and execute a program of work to conduct in depth user research with specific user types for the NRS to ensure continuity of service as the NRS seeks to modernise it’s services and deprecate bespoke technology solutions
Mentoring future designers
As part of the Concentrix Catalyst partnership with RMIT Online in course design and subject matter insight, I took on a role with RMIT Online to facilitate the following courses within the Diploma in Digital Product Design and Certificate in User Experience Design, providing industry expertise and support to students along with assessment marking
- Design Practice & Leadership
- UX Practice & Principles
- UX Research
- UI Design & Product Management
Innovating inclusivity
Working with partners and participants Microsoft, IAG, ANZ, Lifeline Australia, Australian Human Rights Commission and Spinal Cord Injuries Australia to research, plan and prepare assets for an accessibility and inclusivity innovation day
Footy is life
I volunteer for my kids AFL club, the mighty Wests Bulldogs. I coach the U9 Girls team and help with digital and marketing for the club. I won Junior Manager of the Year in 2023, it’s kind of a big deal 🙂
Shall we connect?
I'm always looking to speak about new and interesting challenges and opportunities
Connect
T: +61 (0)404 386 261
E: david@designbyhowell.com
© 2024 Design by Howell